GARY SHEFFIELD TURNED ON THE TV in his Tampa home, watched the Boston Red Sox's press conference to announce the acquisition of Curt Schilling. He couldn't help but smile.

Gary Sheffield, who has faced plenty of controversy in his career, will now take on New York.

By John Bazemore, AP

He knows the Red Sox have no idea what's about to hit them. Just wait until the Yankees drop a bombshell of their own, possibly as soon as the middle of this week.

Sheffield revealed to USA TODAY Sports Weekly, in a series of phone interviews last week, that he's agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract with the Yankees. The All-Star right fielder will earn $12 million a year with a $12 million option or a $3 million buyout in 2007

New York, according to a highly placed Yankee executive, has also signed White Sox reliever Tom Gordon to a two-year contract worth $7.5 million, making him the primary setup man for closer Mariano Rivera. The Yanks also have reportedly signed veteran center fielder Kenny Lofton to a one-year, $2.5 million contract, which would move Bernie Williams out of center and into DH duties. They also hope within a week to re-sign starter Andy Pettitte to a four-year contract.

The Yankees' interest in Schilling waned weeks ago as fears arose about his age and contracts demands. Now they are looking to sign free agent Bartolo Colon to a three-year deal worth about $36 million. They also plan to bring back David Wells, the source said, leaving them again with the deepest starting rotation in the game: Colon, Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras, Wells, Jon Lieber (trying to come back from a season-long stint on the DL following Tommy John surgery) and Jeff Weaver.

"We're not going to lose, you can be assured of that," Sheffield said. "(Yankees owner) George (Steinbrenner) didn't even bring up the Red Sox during our talks. I don't think they're even a concern to him.

"He just kept talking about how bad he wants to win more World Series championships. The Red Sox can say what they want, but look at us. Who's going to beat us? Nobody.

"I know I speak my mind, but I don't just talk the talk, I walk the walk. And if we don't win the World Series, everybody can come and see me first, because I'll take the blame."

The acquisition of Sheffield gives the Yankees one of the best lineups in the game. The 35-year-old slugger batted .330 with 39 homers and 132 RBI for the Atlanta Braves last season, and hasn't had an on-base percentage lower than .404 since 1994. Steinbrener told him he envisions him batting cleanup, protecting Jason Giambi and Derek Jeter in the order.

"George kept telling me, 'I want you to make Derek and Giambi better,' " Sheffield recalled. " 'I know you're going to get your numbers, but I want you to make those guys better. Protect Giambi. If you make those guys better, we'll win. That's all we're missing.'

" 'And, oh yeah, welcome to the Yankee family.' "

The two embraced and just like that, Sheffield had negotiated one of the richest deals in baseball history while acting as his own agent.

"I'm as proud of that as anything I've ever done in baseball," Sheffield said. "Here I am, an outspoken black player, who showed the younger black players in the game they can think for themselves."

Sheffield, who fired his agent, the controversial Scott Boras, in spring training, provided Sports Weekly with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his own negotiations as a free agent, which nearly took a bizarre turn last weekend.

BRAVES GENERAL MANAGER John Schuerholz had been calling Sheffield's cell phone since 8:15 Saturday morning. Assistant GM Frank Wren started calling at 10. Even Braves center fielder Andruw Jones, who was at the hospital while his wife gave birth to their first son that morning, was calling.

Schuerholz finally reached Sheffield's business manager, Rufus Williams, telling them they needed to talk. The Braves, who hoped all along to re-sign Sheffield, heard he was close to leaving, and now for the first time, were willing to increase their offer.

There was only one problem.

Sheffield had already verbally agreed to a deal with the Yankees three days earlier. He had nothing in writing, but had given Steinbrenner his word.

Sheffield decided it couldn't hurt to listen. He jumped on a conference call with Schuerholz and Williams at 5 p.m. The Braves, who initially offered a three-year, $30 million contract, were now increasing it to a three-year, $33 million contract, but $6 million would be deferred annually.

There was nothing to discuss. It still paled in comparison to the Yankees' offer, although the Braves had no idea he had already verbally agreed to leave for New York.

"You know, if the Braves had made that offer in spring training, or even during the season, I would have taken it," said Sheffield, who made $11 million this past season. "I thought for all I did for them, on and off the field, I shouldn't have had to take a pay cut.

"I really thought the final chapter of my story in baseball would end wearing a Braves' cap, but I think there would have been a little piece missing, not knowing what it's like playing in New York, and with George and the Yankees.

"I know there'll be more criticism. I know the expectations will be great. But there'll be no more pressure in New York that I don't already put on myself."

IT'S MONDAY NIGHT, Nov. 24, and Sheffield was at Raymond James Stadium watching his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the New York Giants. Steinbrenner asked him to leave his seat and join him in his private suite. Sheffield was happy to oblige, but didn't want to miss any of the action, so he waited until halftime.

Too late. Yankees GM Brian Cashman informed him that Steinbrenner just left. It was 11 p.m. and an opportunity was gone. But Cashman promised to talk to Sheffield and Williams in the morning to propose a new deal.

Their first offer Nov. 11 was a two-year deal for $18 million, with $3 million deferred each year. Sheffield considered it ridiculously low.

He had attracted plenty of interest in the market, but no one was willing to offer more than $10 million a year, which the Anaheim Angels proposed. The San Francisco Giants had called. So had the Mets. And one of his former teams, the Padres.

"Basically, these teams wanted me, but only if I took a discount," Sheffield said. "I figured the worst that would happen is that I'd just take arbitration from the Braves. But I really believed the Yankees would step up."

Steinbrenner has long been a fan of Sheffield, the nephew of former Mets and Yankees pitcher Dwight Gooden — a favorite of George.

For his part, Sheffield has not forgotten the memory of Steinbrenner visiting his dying grandfather years ago, saying his last good-byes.

"He's one of the last people to see my granddad alive," Sheffield says. "People don't know George like I do. He's meant a lot to our family."

But everyone knew how much Sheffield enjoyed his time in Atlanta. And if there was any doubt to the Braves' interest, Steinbrenner saw it firsthand in early November when he walked into his favorite restaurant, Milo's in Tampa, and saw Schuerholz and Wren sitting at a table with Sheffield.

The Yankees presented Sheffield with a new offer on Nov. 25; this one for two years, $22 million. Sheffield was unimpressed.

"There was no reason to talk with them any more," Sheffield said. "I told Doc (Gooden), 'That's it. No more middleman. I want George. If I can't get George, I'm going back to Atlanta.' They called me an hour later."

They offered a three-year, $36 million deal. Sheffield declined. He hung up and called Gooden again. This time, he was insistent: "Get me George, and get him now. If not, I guarantee you I won't be coming to the Yankees."

Gooden called back. Steinbrenner wanted to meet at 1 p.m. the next afternoon at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa.

SHEFFIELD DROVE his wife's Mercedes convertible coupe to the Yankees' spring training complex. Sheffield was led around to the back entrance. Gooden and Steinbrenner awaited.

Steinbrenner gave Sheffield two options: Three years at $36 million or a four-year deal for $40 million.

Sheffield turned down Steinbrenner's offers. "If you don't get to $13 (million per year)," he said, "I'll play somewhere else."

Steinbrenner looked at Sheffield and then Gooden and pled with the latter to intervene.

Sheffield is the son of Gooden's oldest sister and the two had been like brothers since childhood. Gooden talked about the pride of being a Yankee, and the euphoria of winning a World Series in New York.

But it wasn't enough to convince Sheffield. It was $13 million a year or nothing.

"It just doesn't feel right in my spirit to take less than that," Sheffield said. According to Sheffield, Steinbrenner then looked into his eyes and said: "OK, we'll make it $13 (million), but we'll make it look like $12 (million)."

There will be hidden bonuses and incentives, Sheffield said, that could actually increase the average close to $15 million. An organizational job awaits upon retirement, too. Who knows, with 379 career homers so far, perhaps so does a spot in Cooperstown.

"I want guys who are Hall of Famers, and I want you wearing that Yankee cap in the Hall," Sheffield remembers Steinbrenner telling him. "When you get to 500, we'll make it a big issue. I think you'll do it in three years.

"Look, you might get some grief from me," Steinbrenner went on. "You'll get some grief from the media. But you'll be fine. You're part of the family now. The Yankee family.